Iron Canyon
Iron Canyon is an earth dam located in Shasta County, California, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Iron Canyon
The primary purpose of Iron Canyon is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Pacific Gas And Electric Company (private). It impounds the Iron Canyon Creek near Redding.
The dam stands 214 feet tall and stretches 1,130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 506 acres, has a storage capacity of 24,241 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/27/2023.
At 214 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Shasta |
| Nearest City | Redding |
| River/Stream | Iron Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.04162, -121.98522 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 214 ft |
| Dam Height | 214 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,130 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 24,241 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24,241 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 506 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Pacific Gas and Electric Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00417 |
| Federal ID | CA00417 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |